AFRICA: US Secretary of State John Kerry urged South Sudan to “get the job done” by fully implementing a peace deal or face a UN arms embargo and sanctions.

AMERICAS: Thousands of children trying to escape violence and poverty in Central America have made their way to the US this year with no sign of letting up, a UN report said.

ASIA: More than 1,900 people have been killed in the Philippines’ violent campaign against drugs since President Rodrigo Duterte came to office, national police chief Director-General Ronald dela Rosa said.

EUROPE: A recent report states new and more dangerous smuggling practices and attempts to reach Europe have led to a spike in migrant deaths as they attempt to cross the Mediterranean.

MIDDLE EAST: Iraqi security forces launched an operation to flush out Islamic State militants from the town of Qayyara in south of IS major stronghold in Mosul.

TECHNOLOGY: France and Germany want messaging apps such as Telegram to limit encryption to help governments monitor communications among suspected terrorists.

Libya: Opponents of the country’s UN-backed unity government voted to reject it in a rare session of the eastern-based parliament. (Reuters)

Nigeria: A Muslim mob killed eight people in the northern Zamfara state after torching the house of a man who tried to save a Christian student accused of blasphemy. (AFP)

South Sudan: US Secretary of State John Kerry urged the country to “get the job done” by fully implementing a peace deal or face a UN arms embargo and sanctions. (Reuters)

AMERICAS

Region: Thousands of children trying to escape violence and poverty in Central America have made their way to the US this year with no sign of letting up, a UN report said. (AP)

Peru: The government is advancing an investigation of alleged police death squads and has identified nine officers, including a general, who allegedly masterminded the disappearance of at least 20 civilians since 2012. (AP)

Venezuela: The head of the Organization of American States Luis Almagro said a 14-year prison term for an opposition leader marked the end of democracy in the country. (AFP)

ASIA

North Korea: The country ordered the children of its diplomats stationed overseas to return home, intelligence sources said, in an apparent bid to block potential defections. (Yonhap)

Pakistan: The country’s paramilitary Rangers have shuttered the offices of an ethnic party accused of violence after overnight clashes in Karachi left one person dead and eight wounded. (AP)

Philippines: More than 1,900 people have been killed in the country’s violent campaign against drugs since President Rodrigo Duterte came to office, national police chief Director-General Ronald dela Rosa said. (Reuters)

Thailand: The trial of two Chinese Uighurs accused of planting a deadly bomb in Bangkok last year was postponed because the defence was unable to produce a Uighur translator. (AFP)

EUROPE

Region: A recent report states new and more dangerous smuggling practices and attempts to reach Europe have led to a spike in migrant deaths as they attempt to cross the Mediterranean. (AP)

Region: German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on the EU and North African countries to do deals modelled on an agreement with Turkey to stem migrant flows to Europe. (AFP)

France: Seven people with links to terrorist networks, at least three of whom were planning attacks, have been arrested in the country during August. (AFP)

Germany: Chancellor Angela Merkel urged longtime Germany residents with Turkish roots to be loyal to the country, while pledging to listen to their concerns. (AP)

MIDDLE EAST

Region: Turkey shelled Islamic State positions in Syria for a second day, in response to mortar fire from across the border. (AFP)

Region: Israeli security forces rushed to the West Bank city of Nablus to rescue ultra-Orthodox Jews stoned by Palestinians as they visited a Jewish shrine. (AFP)

Iran: The Iranian parliament pushed back against the military over it dismissing civilian oversight following Russia’s use of an Iranian air base to launch airstrikes on Syria. (AP)

Iraq: Iraqi security forces launched an operation to flush out Islamic State militants from the town of Qayyara in south of IS major stronghold in Mosul. (Xinhua)

Syria: Moscow offered to help negotiate a communication mechanism to prevent incidents between Syrian and US air forces. (Xinhua)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Technology: A coalition of 28 US organizations expressed opposition to the US Department of Homeland Security’s proposal to include social media in its review of visa-waiver applicants. (The Hill)

Technology: France and Germany want messaging apps such as Telegram to limit encryption to help governments monitor communications among suspected terrorists. (AP)